Uganda Guinea Worm Eradication Program

Uganda Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (UGWEP) was created in 1995 in response calls from World Health Organisation to Uganda to join other countries of the world to eradicate guinea worm. By 2003, Uganda was reporting zero cases. In 2009, Uganda was Certified Dracunculiasis free by WHO. Since then the UGWEP has been implementing post­certification activities based on recommendations of the International Certification Team (ICT).

Uganda Government and Partners, through the Health Sector Development Plan III pledged support to maintain disease free status and ensure adequate accessibility to safe drinking water sources in all formerly endemic districts in Uganda.

Key Objectives of UGWEP in the post ­certification phase are maintaining zero transmission status and to contain 100% of any Guinea worm case that may be reported (imported or indigenous if any comes up).

The main actions during this post certification period include; Intensification of surveillance within IDSR framework, Publicity of reward system, Investigation of rumors of GW cases as they come, Inter district coordination meetings, Technical Support supervision of at risk districts, Response to refugee inflow from still endemic South Sudan.

Post certification dracunculiasis Surveillance and Communication is sustained as a result of integration into the IDSR programme, weekly and monthly reporting from all HFs through HMIS arrangement and community event based surveillance,

All guinea worm rumours of suspected cases of an emerging worm when reported are immediately investigated as a matter of urgency as any successful report attracts a cash reward. The cash reward has been a very successful tool for ensuring early case detection and has been running since early 2000s.

The main challenges facing the programme originate from the general underfunding of the health sector that has led to failure to support all the post­certification activities. Human resource such as small number of health workers, low motivation and high attrition rate among the guinea worm trained health workers is affecting the programme negatively. The most recent challenge is potential cross­border transmission of diseases resulting from in flow of refugees from South Sudan poses a risk for re­introduction of Guinea worm. There is also need to step up inter­ - sectoral collaboration to adequately address the social determinants of health e.g. access to water which is still at around 72% to avoid re introduction of the worm to Uganda.

However despite these challenges the programme will continue to ensure zero case transmission status of the country until all countries of the world are declared guinea worm free.